Washing-machine



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

MOSES D. WELLS, OF MORGANTOWN, VIRGINIA.`

WASHING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 11,736, dated September 26,` 18,54'.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, Moens D. IVELLS, of Morgantown, in the county of Monongalia and State of Virginia,l have invented a new and useful Improvement in Washing- Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawin forming part of this specification,

in whic Figure l is a top view of the machine showing the interior of the tub. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line a: of Fig. l.

Similar characters of reference denote the same part of the machine.

This invention refers to washing machines in which the periphery of the rubber constitutes its operating surface; elastic Wings being placed between the periphery of the rubber and the sides of the tub, the position.

of said wings being adjustable for regulating the pressure on the clothes and for facilitating the removal of the same.

It consists in constructing the rubber with a broad flange at bottom extending under the wings, for preventing the drawing of the clothes under the rubber by its rotation, for facilitating the movement of the clothes, and for permitting the dirt, grit, and other impure substances which will necessarily collect in wash tubs to descend to the bottom of the tub and bekept separate from the clothes during the operation of the machine.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will proceed to de scribe the construction and operation of the same. u

In the drawing A is the bottom, and B the cylindrical portion of the tub.

C is the rubber movable on the pivot a, by the' turning of the shaft D; onthe periphery of the rubber are the ribs o extending from the top to the flange f, which extends from the rubber nearly to the cylindrical portion of the tub, leaving a small annular communication Z between the space above the flange f and the portion c between the bottom of the tub and rubber.

Between the periphery of the rubber and the cylindrical portion of the tub are the wings W, each hinged at e and pressed toward the rubber by springs h, while they are drawn back and their position regulated by the cords z', which run through the sides of the tub andf through the piece tothe eye Z of' the lever E. This lever has fulcrum at Im and is held in any required position by means of the projectionnfand ratchet teeth p. The shank of the eye Z is fastened to the spring g, for giving elasticity to the system and preventing a slight movement of the lever E from suddenly moving the wings.

L is a lever secured upon the shaft D by` which motion is given to the rubber: this lever may be made much longer in practice than is represented in the drawing. precise construction andarrangement herein set forth need not necessarily be followed, as equivalent devices may in many cases be made use of.

The operation ofmy improved washing machine is as follows. The lever E being depressed, the wings W are drawn back, for the admission of the clothing to be operated upon. After placing the clothing in the tub the wings are allowed to approach the periphery of the rubber, and are kept in position by securing the lever E as above described, by the projection n and ratchet p,- the distance which is left between the wings and rubber depending on the quantity of clothes to be washed. Soap and water are supplied as in ordinary washing machines and the lever L moved alternately from` side to side by the operator, and occasionally turned entirely around. The ribs b and grooved surface of the wings W act upon the clothes by friction for the removal of the dirt, the flange f upon which they rest assisting in giving them motion and preventinof them from working under the rubber. s the garments are by the occasional rotation of the rubberl carried from between one of the wings and rubber, they enter one of the wide spaces t between the rubber and blocks 1, opening as they leave the wing and being rolled over by the action of the ribs b and flat surface of the block r, enter between the next wing of the series and the rubber, with a fresh portion exposed to the friction. During the process the operator can by the movement of the lever E, draw back the wings W and relieve the packing of the clothes, causing them to turn over, open, and present an unrubbed portion to the action of the machine. The dirt, grit and other substances which accumulateV 1n washing, will pass through the annular opening d and settle 011 the bottom of the tub out of Contact With the clothes. Whenthe Washing is completed the Wings V are drawn' back and the clothing removed7 and the ma-l chine is then ready for a. new supply to be operated upon.

Cords may lbe iplaced vertically on' th face of the rubber, with suitable detaching connections, for holding lafrge and heavy clothing and for preventing the same from settling to the bottom and collecting in masses.

nesses.

. MOSES D. WELLS.

I Witnesses:

GEO. PATTEN,

JOHN L. SMITH. 

